Plenty of digits, interesting facts, awards and team of the tournament

At the thirty first edition of the Africa cup of nations there were many surprises, disappointments, lots of goals and of course new champions. Here are some statistics from the event:

- Goals. In total 66 goals were scored or 2.06 per match. This number was little higher after the end of group stages when there was an average of 2.16 per game where 52 times the ball crossed over the line. But then it was 'drastically' decreased from 8 matches in the knockout stages were scored 14 goals or 1.75 per game. Divided by groups: B gave the most goals -21, followed by C - 14, in the third place is A with 11 and with one number D had only 6 goals. Players were in the mood for second 45 minutes where they scored 34 times against 32 in the first half. 
- Results. Minimal results of 1:0 and 0:1 repeated 8 times, 5 games finished 1:1 with 0:2 and 2:0, 2:1 and 1:2 together with the unpopular result (0:0) has ended 4 times, 2:2 was repeated in 3 games, 2 times were 3:1 and 1:3, while 1 game finished 2:4.

- Actual scorers. Herve Kage Kabananga (Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC) is the best scorer with 3 goals. Eleven players deceived goalkeepers 2 times: Islam Slimani and Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Aristide Bance and Prejuce Nakoulma (Burkina Faso), Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui (Cameroon), Paul Jose Ebunge Mpoku (DRC), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Andre Ayew (Ghana), Sadio Mane (Senegal) and Naim Sliti (Tunisia). With one goal - 39 other footballers have entered the score sheet.

- Unfortunate scorers. Only 2 names went against their own goalkeepers: Algerian Aissa Mandi gifted Tunisia while Rudnilson Brito e Silva (Guinea-Bissau) netted his own goal for Burkina Faso.
- Punishments. In 32 games there were 7 penalties given. All of them were converted successfully, with 5 of them were in the first half while second 45 minutes only had 2. Referees gave most to Tunisia - 3 times, Ghana was 'favored' 2 times, while for Zimbabwe and the hosts, Gabon were given only once.
- Bad boy. Among many yellow cards, only one 'unhappy' player received both of them in a game: Lomalisa Mutambala (DRC).
- Additional time and penalties. No goals were scored in the extra 30 minutes from the first knockout stages on wards, but the two finalists survived the lottery from the penalty shootout: Senegal - Cameroon of the second quarter final and Burkina Faso - Egypt from the first semi final.
- There was extreme joy for the debut team in this edition of the Africa cup of nations from the first game: exactly 90 minutes were needed for Juary Marinho Soares to score his opening first goal for Guinea Bissau and thus entered into the history books in his country.
- One game provided 'double' excitement: own goal and a penalty were scored in Algeria - Tunisia.
- As we mentioned earlier, that players were not in the mood for goals in the first half, that 'drought' continued in 8 successive games. However, this 'spell' was broken by Egypt in the grand final.
- Total disappointment for this edition were the teams from Algeria, hosts Gabon and defending champions Ivory Coast who did not even pass the group stages.
- Losing finalist Egypt did get a prize from the event: they were named the fair play team. Now champion, Cameroonian Christian Bassogog was chosen for the best player of the tournament.

- In a 3-5-2 formation here is the best 11 for the whole event:

Goalkeeper: Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroon).

Defenders: Modou Kara Mbodji (Senegal), Ahmed Hegazy (Egypt), Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui (Cameroon).

Midfielders: Charles Kabore (Burkina Faso), Daniel Amartey (Ghana), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso), Christian Atsu (Ghana), Mohamed Salah (Egypt).

Forwards: Christian Bassogog (Cameroon), Herve Kage Kabananga (DRC).